I often hear that it is helpful to aspire to be like another person, maybe one other person, maybe an action of anothers or even a community. Its a good question to ask and is also good to ask ‘what do I aspire to in myself?’
I have often found it hard to think of another person to aspire to in the media, I don’t watch telly so I don’t know the actress’s or the singers that have become our Gods and Goddesses of our times. I witness people in power and I have my misgivings! I listen to speakers and spiritual teachers and a lot of what I see I like, I might admire, but do I want to be like them?
The question I ask is ‘how creative are they? How often do they dance? Are they heart and body centered? Are their morals and principles ones I would aspire to? Do they reach my soul?’
These questions help me to connect with the person I want to be, because sometimes I learn about how I do NOT wish to be, and I can learn a lot about things I need to work on in myself, because if I am troubled or I find I am uncomfortable in another persons actions or words, for sure I might well be behaving like that myself and I need to check on this, usually with the help of my own trusted advisor, wise elder or one who is on the path of personal recovery and healing and who I admire as I witness their own journey. Importantly I need to be able to trust them and allow them to help me to see into my own shadow so that I can release the energy of that and ‘own’ who I am or who I have become.
From this I learn about my own aspiration, which for me has to be the very best version of myself that I can possibly be, which means I have to aim high, very high! And of course there are some incredibly wonderful beings in the world that touch me deeply and I pray to become as spiritually integrated as them!
Every part of this journey matters, from my physical posture, my attendance and service to others, my morals and principles, my voice and the sharing of my own experience. My spiritual life matters, it really matters, and it needs to include body, heart, mind and soul if I am to be of any use in the world, if I am to truly be the one I aspire to be.
Caroline Carey
